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Paggi said. California Highway Patrol Capt. 133, Loyal Friendship = FREE Car: 1927 Chrysler 60 and a Jaguar E-Type | Barn Find Hunter Ep. James Dean's career as an actor and racing driver was cut tragically short on September 30, 1955, when his "Little Bastard" Porsche 550 Spyder was involved in a catastrophic collision on the way to a race meeting. Imagine Turnupseeds car bearing left and swerving onto your index finger precisely at the same time as Deans car passes the same spot. We need all the help we can get out there on the roads and being *seen* is the most important of all. (Unless the production designer for> THE GREEN BERETS was somehow involved.). A copy is posted here in Woodland at Chubby's Diner with other Deanmemorabilia. The skid marks suggested that, as Turnupseeds Ford crossed over the center line, Dean tried to avoid the impact by steering the Spyder in a side stepping racing maneuver, but it was too late and the two cars collided almost head-on. The Best Celebrity Bikini Moments of 2023 So Far, Pretty Young Thing! I drove that intersection and left turn many times as I made the trip from Paso Robles to Fresno to see a girl friend. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Dr. Eschrich installed Deans Porsche 4-cam engine in his Lotus IX race car chassis. What kind of car did James Dean have? The accident had a profound effect on Turnupseeds family. The collection of 30 photographs have now emerged for sale $20,000 with RR Auctions of Boston. What happened to HIM? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The fates of race car mechanic Rolf Wutherich, college student Donald Turnipseed, and a Porche Spyder 550 A all converged about a mile East of Cholame, California, at 5:30 p.m. on Highway officials report that 42 deaths occurred on the road during the 45 years after James Deans passing. At approximately 5:15 p.m., Deans party hit the road, driving west on Route 466 toward Paso Robles, approximately 60 miles away. In that same race, a Dr. McHenry was killed when his race car went out of control and struck a tree. Dean was heading west from Bakersfield to join the 101 at Paso Robles. never mind that other drivers might not be able to see THEM? A man named Donald Turnupseed was driving a Ford truck. (jalopyjournal.com), (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Help us keep history alive. Donald Turnupseed, the Tulare man who quietly built a family businessand endeavored to maintain his privacy after being involved in the caraccident that killed actor James Dean four decades ago, has died at age63. . Add to your scrapbook. While it wasn't technically seen in any movies, actor James Dean's Porsche 550 Spyder (affectionately known as Little Bastard) could be the most iconic, and cursed car Hollywood has ever seen. Jack Elsom For Mailonline Sir Alec (1914-2000) won an Oscar portraying Col. Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), but he is best remembered by modern fans for portraying Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. He was treated for a scrapednose and bruises at Tulare District Hospital. Dean was barreling down Route 466 at an estimated 85 mph when a young Cal Poly student named Donald Turnupseed, driving a Ford Tudor, decided to make a sudden turn on to Route 41. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. >Imagine having to live with the knowledge you killed James Dean! Why this kind of inattentive driving isn't illegal everywhere is beyond me. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. > You said much the same thing here when we discussed this in 1999. Dean was pronounced dead on arrival at the Paso Robles War Memorial hospital at 6.20pm. James Dean received a speeding ticket on Highway 99 about a hour before thiswreck. First, Barris loaned the car out to the Los Angeles chapter of the National Safety Council for a local custom car show in 1956. Required fields are marked *. But he keptclose ties to the business, Nelson said. Donald Gene Turnupseed 1932 - 1995 . It sort of blends in to the surrounding nothingness except for the shadows of footprints and mementos left by fans from all over the world. ", > A friend of mine bought the (good) driver's side, For the love of corn, deb, I know you're a fan but this man did not, I recall reading that the color of Dean's car was a factor. 24-year-old James Dean was killed when his Porsche 550 Spyder collided when 23-year-old college student Donald Turnupseeds 1950 Ford Tudor Custom coupe as it made a left turn at the junction of State Highways 41 and 46. I have no choice but to drive with headlights in the daytime. Guinness and Moss followed Dean to the restaurant, but before they reached the door, Dean stopped and said, Id like to show you something. Years later, Guinness recalled There in the courtyard of this little restaurant was this little silver thing, very smart, all done up in cellophane with a bunch of roses tied to its bonnet. The young method actor told his new British star, Its just been delivered, said Dean I havent even been in it at all. Guinness thought the car looked sinister. 'Our father was the attorney for Donald Turnupseed. The original plan was to tow the high performance car on a trailer behind Deans 1955 Ford woodie style station wagon the actor had purchased just three months before. See Photos of Joy-Anna Duggars Baby Bump as She Expects Baby No. On advise from la California Highway Patrol officer, Turnupseedhitch-hiked to Tulare after the crash. I drove that intersection many times as I made the trip> from Paso Robles to Fresno to see a girl friend.> > I saw the TV special and it appeared to use the present highway alignment> which has been redone several times in the last 50 years. PARTI. As I remember the Highway 41/46 junction. "He's been bothered by people constantly trying to write a story. The two lanes have remained virtually unchanged since then, while the population of the southern San Joaquin Valley has grown 120% since the crash. Oddly, I happen to have a copy of Dean's death certificate as I> know some of the men who signed it (not my Dad, though).> > As the best I remember at the Highway 41/46 split Turnipseed had the right> of way and Dean had an arterial stop sign. Despite reports of Deans speed being around 85 mph, Corp. Nelson estimated that the actual speed was around 55 mph, based on the wreckage and position of Deans body. The vendor, also called Robert Coyle, said: 'These are official. James Deans aluminium-bodied Porsche was launched into the air, torn and crushed. Donald Turnupseed spent his entire life refusing to talk about James Dean. However, contrary to popular belief, this is not the actual intersection where the accident occurred. Donald Turnupseed was driving the opposite direction as James. Unlike his father, Donald Turnupseed was likeable, but not outgoing, Paggi said. No one is denying Dean got aticket. The Ford suddenly began to turn left to head northwest on 41. Although the legendary car has disappeared, Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe, Illinois, claims to have an original piece of Deans Spyder on display. IMHO, From the looks of the crash photos, the (5 yr. old) Ford looks to be a total Major body/frame damage. I googled the situation and found dozens of arguments/privateinvestigations of the accident, so I know that the InsuranceCompany and California Highway Patrol also recognized there weretoo many factors too fuzzy from which to glean conclusions. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? | The H.A.M.B. He is survived by his wife, Mollie Turnupseed, Tulare; two sons, Davidand Donald Bruce Turnupseed, both of Tulare; one stepson, Rick Bradley,Coalinga; one daughter, Peggy Henson, Fresno; and five grandchildren. Although billed below them, Deans Jet Rink character stole the movie by playing a character who over the course of 40 years goes from cowboy to oil tycoon. A German journalist was the last the call, Nelsonsaid. The insurance company, through a salvage yard in Burbank, sold the Spyder to a Dr. William F. Eschrich, a driver who had competed against Dean in his own sports car at three races in 1955. (Unless the production designer for THE GREEN BERETS was somehow involved.). Your email address will not be published. As any experienced state trooper will tell you, there is a wide marginof error around that kind of analysis. In the TV special I saw no mention of the highway redesign. > Exponent -- which is really very good at this sort of thing -- found> that Dean was not speeding at the time of the crash, and provided> ample evidence to back its claim. which presents an alternative history that tells us what might have happened if Dean had survived the crash. . When he reached the Route 41 junction, he went to take a left turn - not noticing the small silver Porsche headed in the opposite direction. Terms of Service. Because it was twilight and the color of James's car blended in with the sky Donald couldn't see him. Let the guy drive with his lights on if it makes him feel. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? what happened to donald turnupseed car. As they approached the intersection, an unsuspecting student, Donald Turnupseed, drove back home in his Ford Tudor. Four days after the crash, Rebel Without a Cause was released. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. It is ironic that Cholame sits within a mile of the San Andreas Fault-line because on September 30, 1955, the death of James Dean caused a seismic shift in pop culture history that resonates to this day. DebThe national Geographic Channel is doing a special on the James Dean accident coming up at 5:00PM EST..Just thought you might be interested.Shirley. We were toured around the community by a couple of older gentlemen who graciously pointed out spots the young actor frequented including the family farm, Deans old high school, a few of the old stores Dean used to frequent, the cemetery and the funeral home where Dean was prepared for burial. It just died. etc, never came toany conclusion as to who was at fault, and the matter wasdropped. These police photos from the scene of the sickening crash illustrate the devastating impact force which killed one of America's biggest on-screen stars. It is a small chunk of aluminum, a few square inches in size, that was allegedly pried off and stolen from an area near the broken windscreen while the Spyder was being stored in the Cholame Garage after the crash. Jayne Mansfield. Barris claimed that the deathcar mysteriously disappeared in 1960 while returning from a traffic safety exhibit in Florida in a sealed railroad boxcar. Dr. Eschrich had loaned Dr. McHenry the transmission and several other parts from James Deans deathcar. MGWInformation on Hurricane Assistance - http://uniquelygifted.org/katrina.htm. > As you said, it was dusk when the accident happened to Dean, so > headlights would have helped him. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. I drove that intersection many times as I made the trip. He then beat on the aluminum panels with a 24 to try to mimic collision damage. As they left the restaurant, Guinness heard the sound of running, sneakered feet behind them. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. My SUV automatically turns on headlights when the engine starts. Eschrich crashed the Lotus at the 1956 Pomona sports-car races, surviving, but McHenry wasnt as lucky. The road shimmers along this route, making it hard to tell where the road ends and the horizon begins. Exponent -- which is really very good at this sort of thing-- found that Dean was not speeding at the time of the crash, andprovided ample evidence to back its claim. When the train arrived in Los Angeles, Barris said he signed the manifest and verified that the seal was intactbut the boxcar was empty. Shortly before 5pm, Dean was traveling east on Route 46 when he collided with a Ford Tudor driven by Donald Turnupseed, who was turning There you will see the lipstick spotted grave marker covered by more kisses than the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. At the end of the 1955 interview, Dean said, "Take it easy on the highway, the life you save may be mine." Martin Luther King I was in that restaurant and you couldnt get a table. 131, A charged debate: Battery maintenance tech explained. A road sign rises from the median between the converging lanes ominously proclaiming it as James Dean Memorial Junction. In Dean's passenger . Thx. . The gruesome display was promoted as: James Deans Last Sports Car. Failed to delete memorial. Turnupseed died of cancer in 1995. Donald Trump famously said he borrowed just $1m from his father to get started in business - the NYT says he received more than $400m Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). "That's something that bothered him his whole life. It is not known exactly how Barris knew Eschrich, but in late-1956, Barris announced that he would rebuild the Porsche. Hickman assisted in extricating Dean from the wreckage. Donald Turnupseed was likeable, but not outgoing even before the crash, Al Paggi, owner of Paggi Electric told the Advance-Register in 1995. When people ask me why I do this, I>> say, if James Dean had had his headlights on, he would still be alive>> today.>. Anyone else remember him saying that? Interesting. There are interior shots of the wreckage of Dean's car, and one snap reveals the 'Little B*****d' sticker on the bonnet and his racing number, '130'. Thanks for your help! The police report concluded that Dean was at fault for the accident. ). Turnupseed's death was overshadowed by Dean's. Dean died in a car crash nearly 65 years ago (September 30, 1955) but he remains a fixture on the pop culture landscape as the gold standard of cool. Sure, it'scircumstantial evidence, but it works pretty well to show how Dean wasinclined to be driving that night. Donald Turnupseed, escaped the accident with only a gashed forehead and bruised nose. > Dean was heading west from Bakersfield to join the 101 at Paso Robles. But the Spyder wasextremely low and painted light grey or silver, and the sun wassetting behind Dean as he approached the crossroad, so theythink Turnuspeed never saw him when he made his left turn andended up in Dean's path. Turnupseed was president of the San Joaquin Valley chapter of NationalElectrical Contractors Association 1990-94. He and his passenger, mechanic Rolf Wtherich, slammed into the Ford driven by 23 year old Donald Turnupseed. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. He was the driver of the 1950 Ford Tudor that collided with a 1956 Porsche Spyder driven by the famed actor James Dean on September 30, 1955. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Donald Turnupseed (10990655)? He was 63. Didn't mean to imply that it would. A system error has occurred. Dean was in route to a race inSalinas. I love cars and I love writing about them Guinness had already received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in The Lavender Hill Mob in 1951. Oh, hell, that's not so bad. If I had to guess, that sure looks like a 70-80 mph impact. Ironically, in this film, we see Dean go from a young man to an old man on screen. Just what was that ticket for? I saw the TV special and it appeared to use the present highway alignment which as been redone several times in the last 50 years. The driver, 23-year-old US Navy veteran and Cal Poly student Donald Turnupseed, made a left turn onto Route 41 headed north, toward Fresno. After being interviewed by the CHP, Turnupseed hitch-hiked in the dark to his home in Tulare. I do think a look at the level of damage sustained by the cars doeslead away from the old story that Dean was doing 100 or more at thetime of the crash. Just after purchase, Dean was driving his new car around Hollywood on September 23, 1955 when he ran into British actor Alec Guinness outside the Villa Capri restaurant. The idea that lights don't help in the daytime is justplain nonsense. Dramatic never-before-seen photographs from the wreckage of James Dean's fatal car crash have been unearthed 64 years after the Hollywood legend's horrific death. Look at this 2004 Turbo Cabriolet, and at the Porsche 550 Spyder that actor James Dean was driving in 1955 when his life ended, and a legend began, after crashing into Donald Turnupseed's Ford. He was the driver of the 1950 Ford Tudor that collided with a 1956 Porsche Spyder driven by the famed actor James Dean on September 30, 1955. Dean's "significantly damaged" 1955 Porsche. Search above to list available cemeteries. The cause of the fire is unknown. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. The sun was behind Turnupseed, obscuring DEAN'S vision, if anyone's. I'm just glad that brake lights come on automatically, or people wouldn'tuse those, either. . The business owner wasquiet even before the crash, Paggi said. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Donald Turnupseed was an American college student who on March 22 1955 while driving to college collided with and killed James Dean. As well as photos of the wreckage of the cars taken in the hours after the crash, the album also contains overhead views of the junction of Route 466 and Route 41 where the carnage unfolded, and images of skid marks on the ground. Turnupseed, 2nd driver in James Dean crash, dies at 63, Tularean built family electric business as he resisted publicity for 40years. Thanks, Shirley! But they don't consider that when someone can't *see* them, they *also* are likely to be part of a serious/fatal accident. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. But James Dean, America's rebel without a cause, would suffer fatal injuries, including a near decapitation. At>least Buddy Holly's pilot died in the crash! You are most definitely tripping on that. A copy is posted here in Woodland at Chubby's Diner with other Dean> memorabilia. Required fields are marked *. . Both Dean and Turnupseed were pronounced dead at the scene. Shortly before the accident, Dean, dressed as his cowboy character from Giant, filmed a road safety television spot with Hollywood star Gig Young. Guinness had an ominous feeling on seeing the Porsche and would later write in his diary: The sports car looked sinister to me . Jury finds Dean death accidental PASO ROBLES, Oct. 11 After deliberating only 24 minutes,. James Dean and his Porsche Spyder. The group then headed north on the Golden State Freeway and then headed out on Interstate 5 (aka the Grapevine) toward Bakersfield. They remarked that when the young method actor returned to Fairmount after making a Pepsi commercial and a bit part on TV, Dean attended a high school dance. The racers road went directly to Blackwells Corner at U.S. Route 466 (later SR 46). Copyright 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. The accident probably causedTurnupseed to be more private still, Paggi said. These are the only three such snapshots of the wreck in existence. Poor Donald simply did not see the Sypder coming because of the condition presented by the narrow road and setting sun. It was a, "Brad Ferguson" wrote in message, >You having your headlights on in the middle of a bright, sunshiny day, There is an interesting movie that features a fictionalized version of. Speaking of trauma, all of America has a "whoa" moment, when Jayne Mansfield lost her life in a . It was Barris who also stenciled the name Little Bastard on the back of the car. "You could never get close to Don." The route was upgraded and moved slightly north in the 1960s. ", Turnupseed's family declined to be interviewed for this story. One of the towns founders was Robert Edgar Jack. He remains the symbol of teenage angst to millions of young people whose grandparents were more familiar with him than them. Wtherich returned to Germany where he became a successful rally co-driver in the 1960s but reportedly never got over the 1955 crash physically or emotionally. Turnupseed was a 23 year old college student at Cal Poly State University when driving eastbound on Route 466 (later renamed Route 46) when attempting to make a left turn onto Route 41, when he collided with Dean's Porsche . Eschrich installed the Porsches engine into his Lotus IX race car, then loaned the transmission and suspension parts to fellow doctor and racer Troy McHenry. It didnt slow Dean down one bit. They were taken by police officers and later given to the lawyer of the Ford driver when it was thought a court case would brought against him. Requests for interviews about the Sept. 30, 1955, crash came fromaround the world and served as a constant annoyance to Turnupseed. The James Dean car accident occurred on September 30, 1955, when James Dean was driving his Porsche 550 Spyder to a race in Salinas, California. The accident killed James Dean and changed the world forever. (FA is now known as Exponent, Inc., hence the domain name.). Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Are Janelle, Christine and Meri Suing Kody Over Money From Coyote Pass? Dont be so mean! After Dean brushed off the warning, the group proceeded to have a charming dinner. Guinness recalled, then closed his story by saying, It was one of those odd things. Turnupseed was a 23 year old college student at Cal Poly State University when driving eastbound on Route 466 (later renamed Route 46) when attempting to. Dean laughed it off and set about preparing the car for the Salinas sports car races with his Porsche mechanic Rolf Wtherich. His body was battered, and there were numerous broken bones and cuts. I wonder if I am the only one laughing at that parenthetical comment. When he reached the Route 41 junction, he went to take a left turn - not noticing the small silver Porsche headed in the opposite direction. exhausted, hungry, feeling a little ill-tempered in spite of Deans kindness, I heard myself saying in a voice I could hardly recognize as my own: Please never get in it. 0 cemeteries found in Tulare, Tulare County, California, USA. Some twenty years ago, my wife Rhonda and I took a trip up to Fairmount to visit James Dean country. The man behind the wheel of the car that killed James Dean. I read that the insurance investigators, CHP. On that fateful Friday, Wtherich sat next to Dean, while Hickman followed with his truck and trailer. At, Regarding the James Dean crash: My father with the attending physician for, James Dean's last words: "That guy's got to stop! Photos of late actor James Dean's fatal car accident that were to be used in court are going to auction in August and are expected to bring in $20,000. From this vantage point, its also easy to understand how Donald Turnupseed didnt see the tiny silver sports car as it approached from the foot of the Polonio Pass. . Dean was driving directly intothe sun. CA Pink Slip) listing the engine number, is still in the possession of the family of the late Dr. Eschrich. In 2005, for the 50th anniversary of Deans death, the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois, announced they were displaying what was purported to be the passenger door of the Little Bastard. ' Dean laughed. Both Turnupseed and Dean's mechanic Rolf Wutherich were unscathed in the horrific accident. And some strange thing came over me. He was headed to his Central . Barris offered $1,000,000 to anyone who could produce the remains of the deathcar, but no one ever came forward to claim the prize. March 4, 2022 . at the very same intersection where the accident occurred. He ran a very successful electrical contracting business for most of the time since the accident before dying of lung cancer in 1995. The car was sold for parts and eventually melted down. The accident killed James Dean and changed the world forever. "More than likely," he said. Photos of Turnupseed's Ford Custom are also included. There are 12 overhead views of the junction of Route 46 and Route 41, where the crash took place, and 18 ground-level photos, half of which show the damaged Porsche, wearing Dean's #130, in close-up detail. Although tiny Cholame (population 116) makes Deans hometown of Fairmount, Indiana (population @ 2,600 in 1955) look like a metropolis, it would be hard to find a more typical California town. "It was never establishedwhose fault it was. Also on display in the museum are an assortment of Abraham Lincoln relics (a lock of his hair, the handles from his coffin, various bloodstained cloth and one of the coins purportedly placed on the dead Presidents eyes) as well as the Bonnie & Clyde, Flintstones, Back to the Future Movie cars and George Barris Batmobile. . Dean was driving directly into> the sun. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10990655/donald-gene-turnupseed. Where Highway 41 merges into Highway 46, on a barbed-wire fence off the westbound lane, is a small memorial signifying the spot where Deans Porsche skidded to a stop. After being interviewed by the CHP, Turnupseed hitch-hiked in the dark to his home in Tulare. Despite a million-dollar reward for information being offered in 2005, Little Bastards whereabouts remain unknown. Donald Turnupseed was an American college student who on March 22 1955 while driving to college collided with and killed James Dean. Hoosier James Dean died in an automobile accident on a desolate stretch of highway in Cholame, California nearly 65 years ago, yet he remains ever present in the collective memory of fans born well after his death. The 4-Cam Porsche engine (#90059), along with the original California Owners Registration (a.k.a. Part of his remaining allure involves his small town genesis, the curse of his death car and an unexpected connection to the Star Wars franchise. In the TV special I saw no mention of the highway > redesign. American Folk Figure. Dean tried to swerve, but collided almost head on with Turnupseed's 1950 Ford Tudor. The 24-year-old was driving west on US Route 466 in California, bound for a racing event in Salinas, on September 30, 1955, when his 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder collided with a 1950 Ford Tudor driven. Nelson arrived just in time to see an unconscious and dying Dean being placed into an ambulance. Stephanie survived. Turnupseed was only slightly injured with facial bruises and a bloody nose. The. 'These never-before-seen images offering an intensely unique perspective of the crash location and the resulting carnage - many of the photos taken only hours after the accident.'. The fates of race car mechanic Rolf Wutherich, college student Donald Turnipseed, and a Porche Spyder 550 A all converged about a mile East of Cholame, California, at 5:30 p.m. on September 30, 1955. . Some claim that the source of that curse was none other than iconic Pop Culture car creator known as the King of the Kustomizers, George Barris. How fast is it? he asked. This evidence consists of where> the cars came to rest, and the level of damage they sustained in the> collision. I always drive the route when going to visit home (LA) and theintersection where the crash occurred is somewhere off to theright of the present intersection, so it is hard to say whathappened just by driving through there.